Crocker Farm Parent Guardian Organization: Supporting our children, teachers, and the Crocker Farm community through family events & activities, and through fundraising for field trips, classroom mini-grants, and more.

Please join the UMass Amherst community in celebrating Madiba's Gifts: Nelson Mandela's Life and Legacies - A Tribute. Sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor with the support of the Five College African Studies Council as a part of the Africa Day celebrations, this event features Keynote Speaker Garrey M. Dennie, former speech writer for Nelson Mandela and Professor of History at St. Mary's College of Maryland.Panel conversations include:
The South African Struggle: Global Connections
The South African Struggle: Voices from WithinFeatured performances by:
The Amandla Chorus
The Amherst Area Gospel Choir
The Five College West African Music Ensemble
The Wonberi Dancers

This celebration is free and open to all. A reception immediately follows the event.

Families are invited to a free presentation
by Claire Norton which will provide beneficial information regarding a healthy
lifestyle and methods to develop a positive relationship with food.

Claire
Norton is a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist in the State of
Massachusetts.Ms. Norton holds a M.S.
in Nutrition Science from Trinity College, Dublin Ireland and is currently a
UMASS Nutrition Department faculty member. She is the Clinical Nutritionist at
the Adolescent Health Clinic, which uses a family-based treatment approach in
the treatment of adolescent eating disorders.

Visit LSSE.org or call the LSSE offices (413-259-3065) for more information & to register:

Youth Flag Football Clinic For the past four seasons, the Town of Amherst Leisure Services in conjunction with Amherst College head coach EJ Mills, Amherst College Football coaching staff and Amherst Youth Football volunteers have run an instructional program to teach the game of non-contact flag football to boys and girls of all abilities in grades 1-6. Coach Mills has been Amherst’s head coach for 17 years and has been named the Division II/III New Eng-
land Head Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, the NESCAC Coach of the Year and the American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year for this past season. In the past four seasons Coach Mills has compiled an impressive record of 27-5!

Amherst Girls’ Rec Softball League
This is a recreational league that emphasizes skill
development, teamwork, and fun.
All players and coaches will practice together for
the first two weeks. After this two week period,
players will be divided into four even teams. Each
team will then play a scheduled season.

Games will take place at the Middle School and High School Fields.
Ages: 6-12
Dates: April 22-June 12th
Tuesday/Thursday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm.
Price: $89 ***Sign up before April 1st and save $20!***

Youth Volleyball Clinics
For those in grades 5-8 who would like to improve their volleyball skills. The emphasis will be on having fun while learning good fundamentals, with the eventual goal of playing competitive games. This is an excellent program for individuals interested in playing competitive volleyball at the high school level in the future.

Auditions will be held for the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) musical production of ROBINSON CRUSOEMonday, April 7th at the Amherst Middle School Cafeteria from 4:15pm to 6:15pm. All those auditioning should arrive at 4:00
and plan to stay for the full two hours. Some of those cast in the show
will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following the
auditions.

Join the hula dancing Chameleons and many other original characters at Friday’s Seaside Resort this April 12th
when the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) and more than 50 local
students present ROBINSON CRUSOE. Among the roles to be cast are
Robinson Crusoe, his sole companion, a goat named Wilson, Leonard the
Leopard, Friday’s Family, the Oscar Octopus Octet, a family of Goats,
the very hairy Frowny-Face Tribe, and the colorful Chameleons.

Students from Kindergarten to 12thgrade
are encouraged to audition. Assistant Directors will also be cast to
aid in rehearsals throughout the week, and to take on essential
backstage responsibilities. There are 50-60 roles available, with parts
in every age group. This is a group audition, and no advance preparation
is necessary--though a smile always helps! There is a $5 Registration
Fee for all those who are cast (waivers available).

The Missoula Children’s Theatre touring productions are complete with
costumes, scenery, props and makeup. The MCT Tour Actor/Directors will
conduct rehearsals throughout the week from 4:00-8:30 Monday, April 7th – Friday, April 11th. Not everyone will need to be present at every rehearsal.

ROBINSON CRUSOE will be presented on Saturday, April 12th at 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm in the Amherst Middle School Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students under 18 and seniors.

For more information, go to “Children’s Theatre” at ALSCT.org, or call Susan Radek at 413-461-6722. We’ll have a wonderful time together by the sea!

Friday, March 28, 2014

For the next three weeks (April 1-17), on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Crocker Farm students will be engaged in creating a mosaic mural (5' x 10') with visiting artist Joshua Winer. Joshua Winer's work can be found here: www.schoolmosaics.netand www.joshuawiner.com.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS MURAL POSSIBLE FOR THE CHILDREN.

For
each art class, we truly need to have parents helping the children with
the hands on work of this mosaic. We are looking for three parents per
time block and if parents can sign up for a few blocks consecutively- or
for a half/whole day of help- that would be helpful. Josh will briefly
teach the parents the task they will be doing while the children are
also learning and listening in, then the parents lead their group of
kids in this activity with Josh's and Ms. Travis' help and supervision.

Parent
helpers are a bit like the grease for this mosaic machine; without
enough help per art period, we won't be able to get all kids involved
with all parts of the mural process. So please sign up for as much time
as you are able. We promise it will be great fun in the process.

When
you come, please wear work clothing or a smock. If you want to bring
work gloves, this can be useful for some of the work. Please join us in
this wonderful experience by helping the children have the hands-on
support that they need to make this mosaic a success. Again, here is the
link and we very much appreciate your support.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Presented by Prof. Elizabeth VierlingElizabeth Vierling is a Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research program is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Tuesday, April 15th, 7PM – 8:30 PM, Amherst Town Hall, Town Room

Come ready to learn and leave with the vocabulary and a basic understanding of genetic modifications of plants.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Crocker Farm* Wed, 3/26: Family Math Night, 6-7:30 pm, pizza, prizes, and more (link here)
* Thurs, 3/27: School Governance Council meeting, 5 pm, all are welcome* Fri, 3/28: PGO Coffee with the Superintendent, 8:50 am, community room (link here)* Book collection starts for the Crocker Farm book swap -- collection boxes will be
set up in the front foyer, parent pickup area, & in classrooms (link here)

ARPS* Tues, 3/25: Joint Amherst, Regional, Pelham School Committee meeting, 7 pm,
ARHS library. Items on the agenda include a discussion of cameras on buses,
and a teaching and learning update (link to the agenda here)

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Kindergarten Registration for 2014-2015 school year will be April 7th, 8th and 9th between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. April 9th there will be an opportunity to register in the evening 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please see the Kindergarten Registration Flyer or call for questions.

Amherst & Pelham 2014 Kindergarten RegistrationThe Amherst and Pelham Schools will begin kindergarten registration for the 2013/2014 school year on:

MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 20149:00 AM – 2:00 PM each dayAmherst parents/guardians are urged to register at The Amherst Middle School (170 Chestnut Street). Pelham parents/guardians should register at the Pelham Elementary School during the same hours.

There will be one EVENING REGISTRATION session to accommodate those whose schedules prevent them from registering during the day. The evening registration will take place on:

There will be interpreters for the following languages present during the evening session to assist families: Spanish and Chinese. Parents/guardians from any area of Amherst or Pelham may register their children at this evening session.

Children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2014 are eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the fall. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

An original birth certificate, proof of immunization, proof of residency in the district and a current physical examination are required for admission. The original birth certificate, proof of residency, and immunization record should be brought to registration. A physical examination can be performed up to the start of school and forms for a physician to fill out will be available at registration. If parents/guardians have questions concerning student eligibility, they are requested to direct their questions to the appropriate building principal.

African American Achievement Night is scheduled for Friday, May 2 in the ARMS Auditorium (170 Chestnut Street) from 6:30-8:30pm. All are welcome!

The community is invited to participate in this special event honoring students in the Amherst, Pelham and Regional Public Schools. Awards will be presented to students in Grades PreK-12 who have made accomplishments in the areas of academics, leadership/community service, fine & performing arts and athletics. The evening will also feature music, dance and spoken word performances and a special ceremony to honor the ARHS Seniors who will graduate in June. Last year, over 500 people attended the awards night and enjoyed music, song, spoken word and dance.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to nominate their children. Staff at all schools were asked to nominate students too.

At the 2013-2014 Convocation, Dr. Faye Brady announced a new annual award that will honor two Amherst, Pelham or Amherst-Pelham Regional School District employees who "have helped to foster a sense of belonging among students and have helped to build bridges of understanding and acceptance among them." More information about the award criteria is available hereand nomination forms are available here.

Come learn about Futsal, the only in-door soccer variant sanctioned by FIFA, from Devin O’Neill, assistant coach for the Men’s Soccer team at UMass. Coach O’Neill was an All-New England soccer player at Middlebury College (‘91) and brings 19 years of experience at the collegiate level. Futsal is played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regulation soccer ball. This is a great program for individuals to sharpen their soccer skills as Futsal helps develop better ball control, passing skills, and technique. From beginner to advanced, the clinics will be geared toward all levels and focus on skills development and having fun!

Libraries have long been advocates for reading and literacy for the people in their communities. Another community need now being addressed by libraries in an annual campaign is financial literacy and money management. Money Smart Week®, a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances, will be observed with several of programs at the Jones Library during the week of April 5 – 12, 2014.

On Saturday, April 5 at 10:30 am, Sally Wendt and Myra Ross will present Paying for College: What Parents Need to Know. Parents can begin to learn some of the basics about paying for college, including saving, minimizing costs, and maximizing financial aid. Sally Wendt is an independent college admissions counselor. Myra Ross is the college advisor at Amherst Regional High School.

On Tuesday, April 8 at 7 pm, learn how to get a handle on your debt at a workshop called Budgeting: Paying Down Debt. This workshop will cover some budgeting basics, with a special focus on paying down debt more quickly using workable tips provided in the workshop, co-sponsored by UMass Five College Federal Credit Union. Please register for this workshop at the Reference Desk or by calling 413/259-3096.

On Thursday, April 10 at 10:30 am, there will be a children’s story hour with a special focus on money and saving.

Money Smart Week® was an effort originally created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in 2002, and has since grown to be a nationwide initiative. Partner organizations work together to stress the importance of financial literacy, inform consumers about where they can get help, and provide free educational seminars and activities throughout the week. For more information, visit http://www.moneysmartweek.org/.

All programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

Next Tuesday is town election day in Amherst,
& polls will be open 7am-8pm.

Amherst Media has posted a recording
of the recent League of Women Voters candidate forum & video
messages from candidates, including Vira Douangmany & Katherine Appy
who are running for School Committee (SC). The SC portion of the
candidates forum starts @ 52:40 on the forum video. Click on "Town
Elections" to see the video list. Link to Amherst Media (http://www.amherstmedia.org/meetings)

Sample ballots & more election info is on the Amherst town web site: http://www.amherstma.gov/vote or you can contact the Town Clerk for election-related questions: 413-259-3035; email: townclerk@amherstma.gov.The Town Clerk is responsible for conducting all elections.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Lights, Camera, Youth Action!

Our 7th Annual Fundraising Celebration..

Lights, Camera, Youth Action!

Sunday, March 23, 3-5pmStudent Union BallroomUMass Amherst

Join us for an inspiring afternoon!

* Exhibition by Arts-for-Change youth members * Presentations by YAC youth and adults * Silent Auction items donated by local artisans and businesses * Live Music by the Amherst Regional High School Jazz Ensemble * Hors D’oeuvres and Desserts by UMass Catering * A Vital Opportunity to Support Youth Action Coalition!

Event details:
The first hour includes exhibit viewing, a silent auction, live music by
the ARHS Jazz Ensemble, an hors d’oeurves and dessert buffet and cash
bar.

The second hour is a sit-down presentation that includes youth
testimonials, a video screening and a spoken word performance piece.
This is YAC’s biggest event of the year and a critical way to raise
funds from our community. There is no ticket price for this event, but
we will be asking for your contributions during our presentation.

________________________________________________________________

Event SponsorsThis event is made possible by the generosity of the
individuals and businesses listed below. Thanks to their support, there
is no cost to attend the event. Donations will be requested at the
event and all funds received will directly support Youth Action
Coalition’s Arts-for-Change Project.

Next school year's calendar is posted on
the ARPS web site, & can be downloaded HERE. For 2014-2015, school will start the
last week of August for grades 1-6.Kindergarteners will have orientation the last week of August, & then start school after Labor Day.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Whitsons is conducting a brief survey to receive feedback on our school nutrition program and how we can improve our services. We need your input regarding the current program and any changes you would like to see implemented. We will use this information to develop new options and services. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us!

Special Note: If you have a child or children in elementary school, please select grade 6 in question one and then list your child's actual grade level in the comments section of question six.

The Western Mass Hockey School, now in its 14th year, will take place August 11th through August 14that Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, MA.

The Western Mass Hockey School will provide your young hockey player the right environment to further develop the fundamental skills required to improve within our sport. This is a great opportunity to learn both on and off the ice from an experienced coaching staff that is committed to providing high quality hockey instruction right here in the Pioneer Valley.

We are limited as to the number of campers we can accommodate so please be sure to register early in order to secure a spot in our camp this August. If you require additional information, please feel free to email us at quesnelle@nehf.net.

Brookfield Farm is co-sponsoring a terrific benefit dance party to support our region's local food security. The Full-Belly, Benefit Dance Party was created five years ago to capture the incredible outpouring of support and community involvement during the Obama campaign and turn that attention to our local community.The sponsors of this event are local farmers, educators, and food purveyors who recognize the importance of strengthening food security, both at the immediate level, through the work of Amherst and Northampton Survival Centers, and through Kestrel Land Trust's long term efforts to protect local farmland. Those who attended last year's event at the JCA can attest that we had one walloping good time dancing the night away -- and we raised over $4,500! This year The No-No's (yes, that's MY band!) will once again provide us with toe tapping dance tunes, our co-sponsors will provide us with snacks, and Valley Malt will provide us with a cash bar featuring local libations. There will be great gifts raffled off during the night and we will do our best to raise as much money for our recipients as possible.

So please join us at the JCA Social Hall (742 Main St, Amherst) from 8pm - midnight as we dance to some great music and raise money for a pressing cause. Attached is a .jpg of the Full-Belly poster with all the details. And here is the Facebook event page please share this on your wall and invite all of your friends. Feel free to pass this along to your friends and family. - Brookfield Farm

The preschool at Crocker Farm is accepting donations of puzzles for ages 3-5 (and higher) that are intact and in good condition. The children enjoy puzzles with varying degrees of difficulty including those with knobs (inset), interlocking, large floor, and interlocking pieces of up to 40 pieces. Look for our donation box in the preschool entryway.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

A gentle reminder:Orders are due for the Hillside Pizza fundraiser this Friday (tomorrow).
The school earns money on each pizza, cookie dough package, and gift certificate we sell, & the more we sell, the more we earn on each item.

Orders should be submitted with payment and will be available for pickup on Friday, March 21st from 3-6 pm at Crocker Farm.

PRIZES will be awarded to the 3 top sellers. Each will awarded a book of their choice from Barnes & Noble.